OK, I know I'm going to be voted the Moron of the Day for this but I can't let that stop me from posting my question...and yes I searched and read every post on ticks...

I know NJ is loaded w/ticks but somehow never did any application of Frontline Plus on my GSD except in October of 2005. Don't ask. I don't know how or why I never applied it after that.

Two weeks ago I went hiking w/him and went back to the same place this past Saturday. Luckily my sister was w/me and saw ticks crawling all over her dog's face. This prompted me to do the tick search I should have been doing on him everyday but didn't <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> .

I thought I got all the ones from that day but found so so many engorged ones I wanted to hurl. How I never felt them during the times I pet him is beyond me. I can only assume that they were from the hike 2 weeks ago and that for the year prior to this I/he was just plain lucky and didn't have any ticks. The only hiking I've done w/him before 2 weeks ago was on a trail that is completely clear of all bushes and is about 25' wide. So maybe I was just lucky.

Anyway, my problem is that I used a shampoo on him on Saturday that has pyrenes in it and then was told that's poison and throw it away so I did.

I then gave him Frontline Plus on Monday. As of 10 minutes ago I just pulled off another tick that was still alive. How is it alive after giving him Frontline???

I've been putting hydrogen peroxide and neosporin on each spot where there was a tick but he keeps licking 2 spots in particular and don't know how to help him. The vet can't see me until Tuesday.

Also, since I was overwhelmed, I took the dog to the vet tech yesterday to help me find them...2 vet techs went over him, found only 1 and sent me home. Well I found 7 more since they saw him yesterday!

If anyone cares to address any part of this disaster, please do so, including the part that I'm a moron...I deserve it I guess <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> . My poor dog <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> .

Should I have him tested for anything related to ticks? I mentioned this to the vet tech and she said it takes 6 months for this to show up in the blood BUT remember I haven't given him Frontline Plus for one full year!

Fire away anybody!

It's supposed to kill 95% in 18-48 hours.

I guess that could mean 5% take longer.....?

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/how-to-remove-and-prevent-ticks-in-dogs-2/page1.aspx

Where in NJ Judy? If your vet cant fit you in try oradell animal hospital by the pallisades mall if you are near it.
As far as the tick I will let someone with a little more experience give you advice.(I use advantix all the time so I never had to deal with it.)

Steve, you might live in my neighborhood. Oradell Animal Hospital is 5 minutes from my house. How close are you to the hospital?

Connie,

What do you do w/the other 5%?? Should I buy that shampoo again that the vet tech said was "poison"? I know in searching the other posts Adams Shampoo was mentioned but I did not see that anywhere in the store when I went on Saturday.

 Quote:

....What do you do w/the other 5%?? Should I buy that shampoo again that the vet tech said was "poison"? I know in searching the other posts Adams Shampoo was mentioned but I did not see that anywhere in the store when I went on Saturday.

I've never had a tick thing happening, thank goodness and knock on wood, but I'm sure someone here must've and will jump in here.

Can't the vet make a call, even if you can't get in? I would ask for a call back.

The dogs that I've seen that do run though the woods all the time and get ticks even with being treated. The 5% do die off just some times takes a little longer maybe a day.
Don't retreat the dog you'll give an over dose.
The ticks will die and you can brush or they will just fall off. But don't retreat unless a vet does it you'll give an over dose.

Thanks Valerie. I was so tempted to re-treat but knew enough to call the vet and ask first. They said what you said, "No. You'll overdose him". So, I just finished giving him an Aveeno oatmeal bath to soothe any part of him that's inflamed, bought Neosporin for Pain instead of the original Neosporin and bought Aveeno anti-itch cream both meant for the 2 spots that seem to be giving him the most trouble. If one doesn't stop him from licking them, the other one should. I just can't decide if the crap that the tick leaves in its wake is painful or is itchy. Do you know?

I am glad I do not live in NJ anymore.
I lived in 7 states and NJ is by far the most tick infested.

Most flea, tick, and other parasite eliminators are poison. The poison works based on body weight, so, an amount that would kill fleas, tics and other parasites won't harm your dog unless you are dealing with 35 pound or larger ticks (at which point I'd recommend a using a gun).

What are the possibilities that the tick infestation is in your yard? Don't take this personally, I don't know you well enough to insult you, but, is it possible that ticks have, over time, wound up in your home and the dog just keeps getting them.

If you decide the ticks are in your yard/home you must remember to have them exterminated twice. Once kills the pregnant female, and the second time (maybe ten days later) kills the ones the mother laid as she was dying before they reach maturity.